Wire insulating apparatus



May 69 1950 F. P. CIAMBRONE ET AL 2,507,589

WIRE INSULATING APPARATUS Filed June 30, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JNVENTORS.

FREDERlCK P. GIAMBRONE ERNEST W. GORAL Jfd-WW ATTORNEY 1950 F. P. CIAMBRONE ET AL 5 5 WIRE INSULATING APPARATUS Filed June 30, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. FRED K AMB E FIG. 6 ES .GOR

ATTORNEY Patented May 16, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WIRE INSULATING APPARATUS Application June 30, 1948, Serial No. 36,134

9 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for apply ing insulating material to electrical conductors and more particularly to apparatus for wrapping or winding insulating material about a wire or wires in order to provide an insulating cover therefor.

Apparatus has been provided heretofore for wrapping insulation about electrical conductors. Such prior art apparatus has been subject to so much variation in the amount of tension to which the insulating material is subjected, as, for example, because of the variation in diameter of the cop or spool of insulating material as the insulation is unwound, the tension is frequently insufficient at the start of the winding operation.

when the spool or cop is full and a wrinkled or non-uniform covering results, and during the later stages, the tension becomes so great as the torque increases with the decreasing diameter of insulation remaining on the cop or spool that breakage frequently occurs. Furthermore, in the former types of apparatus, sudden changes in direction of travel of the insulating material occur, thereby resulting in wrinkles in the tape which detract from the appearance of the finished product and decrease its insulating efiectiveness. Moreover, when a plurality of colors is utilized in an insulating covering, devices or apparatus assembled according to the prior art are prone to improper mixing of the colors which renders less effective color coding.

It is, therefore, an object of our invention to provide apparatus for applying tape or thread insulation to electrical conductors such as wires or the like, whereby wrinkles and non-uniformities in the insulating cover are minimized.

It is another object of our invention to provide apparatus for applying insulation such as tape or thread to electrical conductors in which the insulating material is maintained at relatively uniform tension, whereby breakage of the insulating material during application to the electrical conductor or conductors is minimized.

Still another object of our invention is to provide wire insulating apparatus by means of which a smooth appearance is achieved, and there is substantially no improper mixing of colors in color coded conductors.

Further objects and advantages of our invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize ourinvention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of our invention, reference 66 may be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. l is a diagrammatic showing of wire insulating apparatus embodying the principles of our invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of a nose piece used for applying the insulating material to the wire or other electrical conductor; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the nose piece shown in Fig. 2, partly in section, the section being taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2; Figs. 4 and 5 are different views of a serving head post utilized in the preferred embodiment of our invention; and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a modification of the nose piece shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is illustrated apparatus for wrapping insulating material I, as tape, for example, carried by a suitable spool or cop 2 about an electrical conductor such as the wire 3 obtained from a suitable source as the spool 4. After the insulation is applied to the wire 3, the insulated wire 5 may be wound up on a suitable take-up spool or other suitable device 6. Any suitable means may be used for causing the reeling or winding up of the insulated wire 5 and the unreeling or unwinding of the wire 3 from the spool or other suitable source 4. For example, the reels 4 and 6 may be suitably mounted on axles 9 and 9a, respectively, axle 9 being suitably coupled to the shaft of a motor or other driving means, not shown.

In the illustrated embodiment of our invention the cop 2 is suitably mounted at the center of a bed or base member l0. Preferably, the cop 2 has a hollow center portion through which extends a suitable center post II which is carried by the base Ill. The center post has an axial passage l2 through which wire 3 passes. The insulating tape l is carried on the cop 2 between end flanges l3 and M.

The base member I0 is suitably mounted for rotation about its center as for example by a geared connection to a suitable drive shaft [5, gearing and shaft being indicated by dash-dot lines, whereby the supply of insulating tape or the like is mounted at the center of base I!) for rotation therewith. In order to facilitate wrapping the insulation about the wire after it emerges from passage 12, there'is provided a suitable nose piece it mounted coaxially with respect to the source of supply or cop 2 of insulation and the base ID, the wire 3 being drawn upwardly through passage l2 and through suitable passages in the nose piece.

In order to guide the insulating tape I from the cop 2 to the nose piece it and to help maintain the tape fiat and smooth, there is provided one or more serving head posts ii. For the winding function, one serving head post is sufiicient, but the use of a pair of diametrically opposed osts located adjacent the edge of the base member It] serves to dynamically balance the centrifugal forces. The conducting tape may be guided around one or more of the serving head posts depending upon the conditions encountered in a given winding operation and the location of parts. located centrally of the base member l0, it may be otherwise located and, in some cases, may even be mounted separately from the base in.

The nose piece [6, as best seen in Figs. 2 and a 3, is generally cylindrical and has a body portion as between substantially cylindrical end portions 18 and 19. A substantial portion "of portion 40 'is of substantially semicircular cross-section, as best seen in Fig. 3, and'is also generally concave or longitudinally curved inwardly as indicated by the numeral 23 to a minimum'cross-sectional area at approximately the middle of the intermediate body portion 45'. There is provided a longitudinally extending coaxial passage 2: extending through the lower end portion l8, a longitudinaily extending groove .22 lying along the relatively flat face 4I of the intermediate portion 40 in alignment with passage 2| and the other end portion (9 is provided with a longitudinally extendin coaxial pa sage 23 whereby the wire 3 may be drawn through passage 2|, groove 22 and passage 23.

The lower end portion I8 is provided with a suitable flange or collar 24 which is adapted to seat on a suitable collar 25 which is carried in any desired manner upon the upper flange i3 of cop 2. The end portion I8 is provided with a reduced portion 27 to receive suitable adjusting means as a threaded member or set screw 28, the lowermost portion 25 extending into recess |2a at the upper end of post II. By this means the relative position of nose piece It, with respect to the cop 2' as well as the serving head post 11, m y be varied to suit conditions.

As stated heretofore, the upper part of nose piece it has a substantial portion provided with a substantially semicircular cross-section. This arrangement is preferably provided by machining or otherwise cutting away the cylindrical base on a plane extending through the axis of the nose piece, thereby providing a Substantially flat surface. The edges are rounded off as best seen in Fig. 3 so that there is provided a smoothly curved surface for engagement with the insulating material. Flat shoulders may be left at the extremities of the cut away portion or any other desired conformation may be provided. In the illustrated embodiment of our invention these shoulders 29 and 30 have been machined to the approximation of opp sed vs. The wire receiving slot or groove 22. may then be provided in some suitable manner in the surface of the relatively fiat area, although if preferred, a. passage may be formed before the cutting away operation in which case the groove is already provided at the time the fiat surface is formed.

In order to facilitate threading of the wire, especially after the first few turns of insulation have been applied, there is provided a generally r al slot 3| extending betw en the outer surface and the passage 23 of the upper portion of the nose piece.

If it be assumed that the reel or cop 2 of insulati n and he re lof wires are pr perl placed,

For example, while the cop [is the operator may fasten the nose piece in place and thereafter thread the wire 3 up through passages i2 and 2i, groove 22 and passage 23. The insulating material l is then drawn from the cop 2 and wrapped about the serving head post i? and finally about the curved surface of the nose piece IS. The end of the insulation is then wrapped around the wire sufficiently to secure the'end. Thereafter, when the'take-up spool 6 and the base member 16 are suitably rotated, the wire 3 is drawn up through the apparatus and the insulating tape is Wrapped therearound. lnspectionof Fig. 1 indicates the purpose of reducing the middle portion of the nose piece IS. The curvedsurface resulting tends to cause insulating material i to ride about the middle of the intermediate or body portion 40.

L From Fig." 2', it is seen that the lower end of passage 2| is provided with a conically shaped opening 32 and the upper end of passage 23 is provided with a conically shaped opening 34. The lower opening or flare 5? serves to straighten out any kinks in the wire 3 or to smooth out the surface of an insulated .wire if one or more layers were previously applied. The conical opening or flare 34 serves a similar purpose in case it is desired to back up the insulated wire, as for example, if breakage occurs. Hence, any u a e re ula ies end to be ot o t regardless of the direction of movement through the nose piece.

The adjustable feature provided in connection wi se p e e it m s diu m n 'o th amo of u es a .4! o the nos siege in engagement with the insulating material 1 and, therefore, determines the amount of tension on the insulating material 4 and thetightness of the Wrapping. Therefore, a change in the area of contact results in a change in tension. A con siderable degree of adjustment is provided with the arrangement shown in Figs. 2 and 3. If a still greater contact area is necessary a different cross-section of the intermediate portion may be provided as illustrated in Fig. 6 wherein surface 20c is of greater extent than surface 20.

With the foregoing arrangement, the insulating material I engages the curved back and onehalf of the fiat portion of the nose piece and ten,- sion is applied at a relatively short distance from the point of application to the wire rather than at a greater distance, such as the cop source, where the tension varies considerably during wind down. Hence, a substantially constant ten sion on the insulating tape or thread results.

The serving head post is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 and preferably comprises a hollow cylin drical member 35 made of a relatively light weight material as aluminum for. example. The cross-section need not be circular but the outer surface should be smooth. The circular crosssection is preferred in order that changes in ten? sion be avoided. The serving head post is flared outwardly as indicated by the numeral 36 in order to keep the insulating material from flying off the post. With a gradually flared end 36, there are no sharp shoulders, hooks or the like to catch or to break the insulating material and yet the tape or thread is completely free to ride up and down the post according to the position of the tape on the cop 2.

The serving head post I l maybe secured adjacent the edge of the base 10 or in any other desired p sition as by means of a suitably threaded end 31- engaging a suitably tapped opening. To raoilitatefastening the post to the. base member.

the lower portion of the post I! is provided with oppositely disposed faces 38 machined to fit a wrench. f

The preferred length of post l1 depends upon the distance between the extremities of the source of insulating material as, for example, the distance between flanges 13 and I4. Preferably the length is so chosen that the mid-portion of the curved or flared section 36 is opposite one extremity of the package of insulation.

While we have shown and described a particular embodiment of our invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from our invention in its broader aspects. We, therefore, aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of our invention.

What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus for wrapping insulating material about an electrical conductor comprising a base member, means for rotating said base member, a supply of insulating tape or the like mounted at the center of said base member for rotation therewith, means providing a longitudinally extending passage through said base member and said supply for said electrical conductor, a nose piece mounted coaxially with respect to said supply and said base member above said supply, a substantial portion of said nose piece intermediate its ends having a substantially semicircular cross-section thereby providing a relatively fiat side and an adjacent curved surface, said nose piece having a longitudinally extending groove along the relatively flat side of said semi-circular portion disposed coaxially with respect to the first-mentioned passage for guiding said electrical conductor, serving head post means adjacent the edge of said base member for guiding said insulating material from said supply to I said nose piece, the upper end of said post being flared outwardly for maintaining said insulation on said post, and means for adjusting said nose piece with respect to said post in order to control the area of contact between the curved surface of said portion and said insulating material.

2. Apparatus for wrapping or winding insulating material about an electrical conductor comprising a source of insulating material, means for applying said insulating material to an electrical conductor comprising a nose piece having a smoothly curved surface intermediate its ends for engaging said insulating material, means for adjustably mounting said nose piece with respect to said source of insulating material'whereby the area of engagement between said insulating material and said curved surface is adjustable, and means for rotating said nose piece in order to wrap or wind said insulating material about said conductor, the diameter of said intermediate portion being reduced in a predetermined region whereby said insulating material tends to ride in the center of said smooth portion.

3. In apparatus for wrapping or winding insulating material about an electrical conductor of the type including a spool of insulating material and means for applying said insulating material to said conductor, a serving head post for guiding said insulating material from said spool to said applying means comprising a hollow cylindrical member of smooth exterior surface formed from a relatively light weight material, said member being flared smoothly outwardly at one end thereof.

4. In apparatus for wrapping or winding in- 6 sulating material about an electrical conductor of the type including a spool of insulating material and means for applying said insulating material to said conductor, a serving head post for guiding said insulating material from said spool to said applying means comprising a hollow member of smooth exterior surface, said member being flared smoothly outwardly at one end thereof.

5. In apparatus for wrapping or winding insulating material about an electrical conductor, means for applying insulating material to said conductor comprising a generally cylindrical member having a substantial portion intermediate its ends of approximately semicircular crosssection thereby providing a relatively fiat face and an adjacent curved surface, a longitudinally extending coaxial passage extending through each end portion, a longitudinally extending groove along the relatively flat face of said portion in alignment with said passages whereby said electrical conductor may be drawn successively through one end passage, then through said groove, and then through the other of said end passages.

6. In apparatus for wrapping or winding insulating material about an electrical conductor, a source of insulating material, means for applying insulating material to said conductor com prising a generally cylindrical member having a. substantial portion intermediate its ends of approximately semicircular cross-section thereby providing a relatively flat face and an adjacent curved surface, said surface also being generally:- concave longitudinally of said member, said member being disposed such that a substantial length of insulating material engages the concave portion of said curved surface, a longitudinally extending coaxial passage extending through eaclr end portion, a longitudinally extending groove along the relatively flat face of said portion, said groove being aligned with said passages whereby said electrical conductor may be drawn successively through one end passage, then through said groove, and then through the other of said end passages, a radially disposed slot extending between the exterior surface of said applying means and the last-mentioned passage in order to facilitate threading said conductor through said applying means.

7. In apparatus for wrapping or winding insulating material about an electrical conductor, a source of insulating material, means for applying insulating material to said conductor comprising a generally cylindrical member having a substantial portion intermediate its ends of approximately semicircular cross-section, said portion being curved inwardly to a minimum crosssectional area at approximately the middle of said portion, said member being disposed such that a substantial length of insulating material engages the curved surface of said semicircular portion, a longitudinally extending coaxial passage extending through each end portion, a longitudinally extending groove along the relatively fiat face of said portion, said groove being aligned with said passages whereby said electrical conductor may be drawn successively through one end passage, then through said groove, and then through the other of said end passages, said applying means being adjustably secured to a base member.

8. In apparatus for wrapping or winding insulating material about an electrical conductor,

1 means for applying insulating material to said 3, 5 QZRQQ qqndiwtmr t m xisi n en ia m india i fimbicr ha n lib 'tant a Poriidn nte medh a s n a in la sm pih @989? s i aq i9 e a' i said ns lat n ma n a pr n 9 it applicatipn to saiti conductor, and a '1qngitudi-. n t d n pa sa e, throu h a nos Pi c f r. id n id onduq pr a d: i n a x prqviqe d with an opening intq said, passage'tqr facilitate the application initially of iIlSQIQtiPg; material t9 said cqn d uctor,

n an mius o rap n o w n in s l lig m r al a ut n e iical co u or. m ans pr appl n su a mat r l. d. o u or q p s n a ge l c ndri al; b having a ub ta al: t n n e med t nd a i a mpq h on we nr q i0 engaging said insulating material rion td-i ts application tq said cqn' cil gt or, a longitudinally: x in sa e thrq id 1 9% pi o guiding s aici cond lptor, saiq portion'b eing p130: ided with an opening into said passage to fa-i iat app io n t all of. sulat n -i tfiria it id qpdu ori a i pa sa a be n fl re at both enqswhereby irregulapitieginthg surface of said conductor tend to be smoothed nt r e REFERENCES CITED The following reference; are i record in file, of thiS-paitnjfi UNITED; STATES PATENTS.

Numbe N me Date.

5 ,9 0 Mc ah Ju 14, 91 6,6 C rk --v Ma ,1 11,

,2 0, 5 K ati i May 1 1 O E GN PATEN Number Country Date 101,939 Ge rm any. Jan. 12, 1899 2045487 Germanyflfl Mar. 10, 1908' 

